PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92025 PERMIT NO. 94
The Coast News
INLAND EDITION
.com
VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 3, N0. 13
Protestors call for freedom of speech at Vista City Hall
County releases draft EIR for project
By Christina Macone-Greene
VISTA — A crowd of peaceful demonstrators at the Vista Civic Center grew in numbers netting the attention of after-work commuters before a June 13 City Council meeting. A concerned group of citizens, who have protested at Congressman Darrell Issa’s office for one hour every Tuesday morning since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, voiced concerns that their “freedom of speech” may be impacted due to a permit issued by the city of Vista. While worries mounted over the threat of not being granted a new permit at the end of June, protestors wanted current restrictions lifted on a new permit if received. The current limitations included the use of amplified voice devices such as megaphones, not impeding sidewalk traffic and being responsible for law enforcement costs if mobilized. Longtime resident Nanci Oechsle was one of the demonstrators on June 13. “This particular rally is about rallies that have been going on in front of Darrell Issa’s office every week,” Oechsle said. “The person who originally started it has been getting a permit which she doesn’t have to do.” According to the letter issued on June 1 by the ACLU to the city of Vista, the organizer of the weekly protest is Ellen Montanari
By Aaron Burgin
SAN MARCOS — Developers of a controversial proposed 2,135-home subdivision of San Marcos are hailing the project as “San Diego County’s first carbon neutral community” as public review begins on the project’s draft environmental report. The draft environmental impact report for Newland Sierra was released June 15. The review period ends Aug. 14. The County Board of Supervisors seven years ago rejected a predecessor project called Merriam Mountains, which would have created 2,530 homes on 2,300 acres in the same area, north of Deer Springs Road and west of Interstate 15. The new project reduces the footprint to 1,985 acres. According to the document, the project would cause significant and unavoidable impacts to the area’s aesthetics, air quality, mineral resources, noise, population and housing, and transportation and traffic. “Feasible mitigation would not reduce such impacts to less-than-significant levels,” the report states. Newland Communities, the developer, issued a statement last week coinciding with the release of the draft environmental impact report, touting the developer’s commitment to environmental stewardship. The statement highlights several features of the project that help make it the county’s first net-zero emissions community, including putting solar panels atop every home, a charging station for electrical vehicles in every garage, a community-sponTURN TO EIR ON 3
JUNE 30, 2017
and the letter questions the city’s permit conditions. “The last time that Ellen applied for a permit, the city keeps putting all these other constraints on it and kind of threatening us that we are going to be personally liable for the sheriff if they come out here,” Oechsle said. For the last few weeks, the presence of law enforcement has been visible at the Issa headquarters. Oechsle wants to know why they are there since she and her fellow demonstrators have been peaceful. “We’re not doing anything,” she said. “They (law enforcement) have moved us across the street where it’s hot as it can be, even on a cool day. The ACLU came to observe what was going on when the permits started getting increasingly more difficult to get. They (the city) are trying to squelch our freedom of speech.” During the City Council meeting, Vista City Attorney Darold Pieper addressed the protestor-free speech situation noting that he knew there were many demonstrators seated in the council chambers. “Apparently, for some reason, there is a rumor that the city will not reissue a permit,” he said. Pieper dispelled the myth by stating that this was not the case. “A permit will be reisTURN TO PROTESTORS ON 7
Queen for a Day Paige Dreeuws of San Marcos High School, shown at a previous event, was the winner at this past weekend’s 2nd annual Queen of the Beach Invitational in Hermosa Beach. Dreeuws, who has committed to the University of Hawaii, was one of six North County high school volleyball players invited to participate. She went 2-1 in the final round to win the 64-player high school division. Courtesy photo
A group of protestors meets weekly on Tuesdays outside of Congressman Darrell Issa’s office. Photo by Christina Macone-Greene
City Council responds to ‘Innovate 78’ economic development updates By Christina Macone-Greene
VISTA — Along the 78 Corridor, the five cities of Vista, Escondido, Carlsbad, Oceanside and San Marcos continue their partnership with the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) with the goal to collaborate and bolster the economy of each city. During a Vista City Council meeting
in June, Matt Stanford of the San Diego Regional EDC mentioned that he wanted to check in every six months to provide the latest updates. Innovate 78 launched its brand in April 2015. Since that time, Stanford said there had been good exposure for the 78 corridor by way of local media, newsletters and other types of communications.
“As we move forward, we’re really at a good point, one where we now look to leverage our branding and provide more direct support,” he said. Stanford went on to mention that Globarket Recycling Attraction had plans to relocate from Mexico to Vista with a $3 million initial investment and 30 full-time
employees. Following the presentation, Councilman John Aguilera thanked Stanford for the information but also revisited a question from a recent North County meeting. It had to do with the possible downside of potential employers viewing the high cost of housing and affordability in North County.
Stanford explained that the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation was taking a firm look at the inclusive economic development and how they were able to make sure that their work touched and supported all populations. “One of the biggest challenges for people in certain companies is the cost of living
and affordability here in San Diego,” he said. “We are actually looking at affordable cost of living as a competitive, mutual competitiveness issue.” Another item was assessing how this topic affects the economy laterally. “That is a factor that we hope to have some more good TURN TO INNOVATE ON 10